Add Audio to Google Slides on the Web
You can add an MP3 or WAV file to a slide on Google Slides on the web. To do so, you’ll need to upload the file to Google Drive first. Slides doesn’t offer a direct upload option from your computer at this time.
Upload the Audio File to Google Drive on the Web
If you’re familiar with uploading files to Google Drive, you can skip this section but if it’s your first time, just follow these simple steps. Next, you can head to Google Slides to insert the audio file.
Add the Audio File to Google Slides on the Web
Once your audio file is in your Google Drive, you can insert it on any slide in your presentation easily. When you present your slideshow, simply select the icon to play your music or narration. You can also customize a few playback options first.
Customize the Audio File Playback
If you’d like to play the audio file automatically or loop it to repeat, you can adjust these playback options. Select the audio icon and do one of the following:
Choose Format > Format Options in the menu. Right-click and select Format Options. Pick Format Options in the toolbar at the top.
You’ll see the format sidebar open. Expand the Audio Playback section. Below Start Playing, you can choose from On click or Automatically for how to play the audio. If you pick On click, you’ll need to select the icon to play the audio. If you pick Automatically, the audio will play as soon as you move to the slide. Below Options, use the slider to adjust the volume of the audio during the presentation. Next, if you choose Automatically in the Start Playing section, you’ll see that the Hide icon when presenting option becomes available. Check the box to hide the icon from your audience while presenting. You can also check the boxes for Loop audio to automatically replay the audio when it ends and Stop on slide change if you want to stop playing the audio when you move to the next slide. When you finish, you can use the X on the top right of the sidebar to close it.
Add Audio to Google Slides on iPhone, iPad, and Android
If you’re using Google Slides on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device you can insert an audio file but a bit differently. As of this writing, there isn’t an Audio option on the Insert menu; however, there is a workaround.
To add your audio, you’ll create a link to it using text, an image, or other object on your slide. When you select the linked item, you can play the audio.
Upload the Audio File to Google Drive on Mobile
To add the audio file to your presentation, you can upload it to the Google Drive mobile app easily.
Add the Audio File Link to Google Slides on Mobile
To add the link to Google Slides, head there and open the slide. If you don’t have the item you want to link such as text, an image, or object, go ahead and add it.
When you play your presentation, select the link or the linked item to open and play your audio.
Keep in mind that because this is a workaround, selecting the link won’t simply play the music, voiceover, or audio recording, but rather, open the audio file for you to press the Play button.
Before Google implemented the audio feature in Slides on the web, you had to use a different method to add music to Google Slides. Hopefully, Google will follow suit and introduce the audio option for its mobile app down the road as well.
